Coney Island’s New Coasters Not Quite Ready to Roll

Not so fast, roller coaster fans: Coney Island’s newest amusement park won’t be open to the public until Saturday.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was part the parade of dignitaries who turned out Wednesday to herald the debut of Coney Island’s first new roller coasters since the Cyclone opened in 1927. But two Scream Zone four big ride, Steeplechase and Soarin’ Eagle, still need work.

“Given the weather this past week and the time constraints, there are certain conditions that make it difficult to complete certain elements of the ride assembly,” said Tom Corsillo, a spokesman with amusement park operator Central Amusement International.

Stephen Mallon for The Wall Street Journal

Workers piece together the Soarin’ Eagle, one of the first new roller coaster in Coney Island since the Cyclone debuted in 1972. See more photos.

At Wednesday’s ribbon cutting, local kids in attendance were able to try the attractions that were up and running, including a wind-turbine ride called Zenobio and the Sling Shot, which whips riders into the air.

Central Amusement International has a 10-year lease to operate Scream Zone and the nearby Luna Park amusement park. The success of Luna Park, which drew 450,000 visitors in 2010, has been credited with helping Coney Island achieve its best attendance numbers in years.

The process of building the new roller coaster has been going on for months. WSJ’s Stephen Mallon chronicled the construction of the Soarin’ Eagle, from disassembled pieces of brightly color metal to (nearly completed) thrill ride towering over the boardwalk. Watch the process unfold in time-lapse video.

This post has been updated. Scream Zone’s Saturday debut was announced during Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, a spokesman for New York City’s Economic Development Corporation said. A spokesman for Central Amusement International had said Scream Zone was originally scheduled to open Thursday.